Ch IPreliminary
S.1 Short title and commencementS.2 DefinitionsS.3 Application and scopeCh IIObligations of Data Fiduciary
S.4 Grounds for processingS.5 NoticeS.6 ConsentS.7 Certain legitimate usesS.8 Data Fiduciary obligationsS.9 Children’s dataS.10 Significant Data FiduciaryCh IIIRights and duties of Data Principal
S.11 Right to accessS.12 Correction and erasureS.13 Grievance redressalS.14 Right to nominateS.15 Duties of the Data PrincipalCh IVSpecial provisions
S.16 Transfer outside IndiaS.17 ExemptionsCh VData Protection Board of India
S.18 Establishment of the BoardS.19 Composition of the BoardS.20 Salary and term of officeS.21 DisqualificationsS.22 Resignation and vacanciesS.23 Proceedings of the BoardS.24 Officers and employeesS.25 Members as public servantsS.26 Powers of the ChairpersonCh VIBoard powers and procedure
S.27 Powers and functions of the BoardS.28 Procedure followed by the BoardCh VIIAppeal and dispute resolution
S.29 Appeal to the Appellate TribunalS.30 Tribunal orders as a decreeS.31 Alternate dispute resolutionS.32 Voluntary undertakingCh VIIIPenalties
S.33 Penalties and the ScheduleS.34 Penalties to Consolidated FundCh IXMiscellaneous
S.35 Good-faith protectionS.36 Power to call for informationS.37 Blocking of accessS.38 Consistency with other lawsS.39 Bar of jurisdictionS.40 Power to make rulesS.41 Laying of rules before ParliamentS.42 Power to amend the ScheduleS.43 Power to remove difficultiesS.44 Amendments to other ActsConcept
Processing is almost anything you do with personal data, from collecting and storing it to using, sharing or deleting it, where the operation is wholly or partly automated.
TL;DR
Processing (Section 2(x)) is almost anything you do with personal data, from collecting and storing to using, sharing or deleting it, where the operation is wholly or partly automated. Because the scope is so wide, the trigger for the Act's obligations is low.
"processing" in relation to personal data, means a wholly or partly automated operation or set of operations performed on digital personal data, and includes operations such as collection, recording, organisation, structuring, storage, adaptation, retrieval, use, alignment or combination, indexing, sharing, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, restriction, erasure or destruction.
The definition is deliberately broad. Collection, storage, use, sharing and even erasure all count. If you touch digital personal data, you are almost certainly processing it.
Because the scope is wide, the trigger for obligations is low: as soon as you process personal data for a purpose, you need a lawful basis and take on the duties that follow.
Storing customer emails, sending a newsletter, and later deleting an account are three separate acts of processing.
Does storing data count as processing?
Yes. Storage is expressly listed, so simply holding personal data is processing.
Does deleting data count?
Yes. Erasure and destruction are named in the definition.
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